The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-12
CLOCKS OF A CENTURY AGO.

CLOCKS OF A CENTURY AGO.
Mr.. Charles s. Crossmau is writing a
history of watch and clock making in
America, says The NeaO York Mail and
EGpreSs. A reporter gained from him
historical facts about watches and clocks
Luther Goddard was the pioneer
matchmaker in America" Mr.. Crossman
said. "He began in 1909 at Shrewsbury,
Mass The factory building was one story
high with hip roof, and built on the
declivity Of Shrewsbury hill. There are
no traces left of the little factory. The
watches he made were similar to Eng
lish verge watches. The hands, dials,
round and dovetail brass and steel wire,
main and hair springs, balance verges,
chains and pinions were all imported.
But the plates, wheels, and other brass
parts Goddard cast himself. He had
with him several British soldiers, who
after the Revolution, decided to remain
and ply their trade as watchmakers. He
also made the cases for the movements,
which were Of the usual style, open face,
double case, and somewhat in advance of
the thick bulls eye watches Of the day.
The first watch he made was sold to the
father of ex-Gov. Lincoln, OF Worcester.
The first attempt to manufacture watches
by machinery in America, was made by
Henry Pitkin in the fall OF 1885, He had
four apprentices, each of whom he paid
$50 and board a year. The machinery
was all invented by Mr.. Pitkin, and
though very crude displayed great orig
inality.
"Gideon Roberts was the first to make
wood clocks in Bristol, in 1870, and one
OF the first to make them in Connecticut.
His clocks were the old fashioned hang
up. The plates were half an inch thick
and foot square. He sawed the teeth
out by hand and the weights were tin
canisters filled with shot. The clocks
were valued at $25 each. The one-day
weight brass clock was invented by
Chauncey Jerome, in 1888, and was the
most popular style of cheap clock for
many years. It was this style of clock
which was first imported to England in
1912. Mainsprings we're fret introduced
in 1916 and since then the tendency has
been to reduce clocks in size. The small
nickel clocks first made in 1876, are an
outcome of this popular demand. The
colonial high case, or grandfather clocks
that are sought after now by lovers
OF the antique, were pretty much the
only style of clock known a century ago.
The Connecticut clocks did not come into
use until the beginning of this century.
So when the colonial clocks were in
vogue there were only a few Dutch and
English styles beside. Many of the finer
colonial clocks of the most celebrated
of the wealthy lovers of the antique and
rare in art. These clocks are of English
origin and date back to the practical in
PRODUCTION of the pendulum into clocks
early in the seventeenth century. Oba-
diah Holmes, minister, brought the first
clock OF this style from Europe to Massa-
chusetts in 1889, and finally in 1850, set
tied in Rhode Island. These clocks were
very expensive, and Rev. Mr.. Holmes in
those days was considered very wealthy
to be able to possess one. The first
knowledge history has of clocks being
sold in New England was when Joseph
Essex and Thomas Bradley offered them
for sale in Boston in 1712. 1t is more
than probable, though, that Benjamin
Bagnall was making clocks as early as
this in Boston. No correct date can be
found to prove otherwise. The first de-
finate knowledge of him was an entry
made in the treasurer's book of Charles
ton, August %, 1924, which mentioned
that he was paid so much for cleaning the
town clock. BagnalIs clocks were rather
small in size. with cast brass dials and
plain mahogany cases. William Clag-
gett, the most celebrated colonial clock
maker of the seventeenth century, was
born in 1896, and made clocks at New
port. His clocks are very scarce and
highly priced. The movements are all
fine and the cases of good workmanship.
One now in the Rhode Island Historical
Society's rooms is of the hanging style
and valued at high price.
"Olaggett was a versatile man, and be-
sides making the best clocks of his time